balmung The Sable Witch's Contracts

[Gone]

(Pinned on the market-boards in the various cities are small, elegantly-penned notes; missives easily lost beneath the sea of flyers, pamphlets and lists posted around them. Sometimes, however, they flutter loose -- as though choosing those who might need them the most.

 

Each is marked with a the sigil of a stylized black flower overlaid upon a white crescent moon)

 

[align=center]~*~[/align]

[align=center]Hydaelyn's children, I call to thee. 

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[align=center]Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, kin and comrades. 

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[align=center]There exists only one constant in this life. 

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[align=center]The subsistence of mortal will, an everlasting battle between

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[align=center]the chaos of emotion and the order of reason. 

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[align=center]These aspects are present in every one of our lives,

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[align=center]And I seek to assist you in bringing one -- or both -- to fruition. 

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[align=center]Hydaelyn's children, I offer myself to thee. 

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[align=center]An instrument to add to the orchestra at your direction. 

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[align=center]Is there a task that weighs upon your mind?

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[align=center]A scheme that must be woven?

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[align=center]A ward that needs be guarded?

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[align=center]A vengeance that needs be sated?

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[align=center]A broken heart that must be consoled?

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[align=center]Even an errand that one feels too complacent to undertake?

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[align=center]Speak it to me, and I will see it done. 

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[align=center]And in return, I ask not coin, nor power, nor prestige. 

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[align=center]I ask only that you tell me why. 

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[align=center]It is war that interests me --

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[align=center]The war between chaos and order in the mortal heart. 

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[align=center]Speak truth to me; reveal your reasons

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[align=center]The forces amongst your will that motivate the task

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[align=center]Bare your heart to me.

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[align=center]This is the price I ask, for my service. 

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[align=center]I am many things -- a spellweaver, a sorceress,

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[align=center]A soothsayer, a philosopher, a lover and a killer

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[align=center]A soldier, an archer, a seer and a scientist. 

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[align=center]I am many things, and I can be a great deal more.

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[align=center]But I am no judicator, interested in judging good or evil. 

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[align=center]Whether your reasons are sufficient or no; 

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[align=center]that is all that matters to me. 

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[align=center]Mark your inquiries with my sigil, 

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[align=center]and we will speak. 

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[align=center]~The Sable Witch

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Hey folks~

 

In an endeavor to begin roleplaying and building a repertoire of contacts, Vivienne du Sindflare, self-stylized as the Sable Witch, is contracting out her services in return for insight into the 'human condition' (so to speak; not everyone's a hyur in FFXIV!)

 

What services does the Sable Witch offer?

 

Anything that she is capable of doing. Contracts can be for something as simple as escorting a researcher through an expedition route, or procuring a crafting order for delivery, or offering comforting words and a warm presence to a grieving individual...all the way to lengthier arrangements such as a bodyguard, advisor, instructor (magics, summoning, etc), or participant in a scheme that takes time to execute, a la Game-of-Thrones-esque plots, assassinations, rival-House intrigue, and so forth.

 

Vivienne has many talents beyond her combat abilities (which favor magical combat, but she is proficient at a variety of forms). Specific inquiries can be made via letter as to whether she is suitable for a particular task or no.

 

You can read more about Vivienne herself here.

 

What's the catch? The price?

 

The catch is that in order for a character to propose a task for the Sable Witch, they'll have to explain why they want this particular task performed. The more compelling the character's reasons, the more likely Vivienne is to accept.

 

Why? She's motivated by knowing what makes people tick. Her interest is not in the contracts themselves, but in how they might enlighten her as to the other person's motives (and by extension, the motives of people in general). You might think of her as something of a social psychologist.

 

So, for example, Vivienne would turn down a bodyguard contract if the other party said 'simply because my life is in danger.' That's not a compelling reason and doesn't explain much. However, if said character indicated that they were fleeing the wrath of a rival noble house due to marriage intrigue and a duel gone awry, the Sable Witch would be hard-pressed to turn down such a task. She might play devil's advocate a bit, but that's only part of her nature.

 

Will she decline a task because ______?

 

There are two reasons Vivienne might decline a task.

 

Vivienne will decline a proposed contract if her 'price' of explanation is not valid. This can be insufficient reasoning or outright lying about said reasons. A client's dishonesty is considered an immediate breach of contract -- how can the Sable Witch learn of individual motivation, if the reasons given for such motivation are untrue?

 

Second, she will decline a contract if she believes it is not in her ability to fulfill it, or (in rare cases) it interferes with a pre-existing contract. This is, in her view, common sense. She won't enter into an agreement without being confident she can undertake what it requires of her. It is also impossible for her to take a contract that forbids her from taking other contracts.

 

That being said, these are likely the only two reasons she will decline a task.

 

Things that don't matter at all to her -- morality (whether a task could be considered good, evil, etc), the nature of the task (given the reasons are what interest her, it doesn't matter if the task is something as simple as picking flowers), what it requires of her (ex: courtesan-esque contracts are no different than normal contracts, presuming the appropriate reasons are given), the duration (how long a task might take) and so forth.

 

How should I contact her about a potential task/contract?

 

Given that ingame mail is restricted to friends only, I welcome you to send IC letters from your character(s) to Vivienne via this forum's private message system -- it's easier and quicker for me to send replies here as well. You can also contact me ingame, though given I use duty finder a fair amount, you might find your whispers won't go through half the time!

 

If Vivienne responds favorably, the next step is to set up an ingame, in-person meeting between herself and her prospective client in order to solidify the terms of the deal.

 

 

TL;DR

 

- Duskwight sorceress and mystic open to undertaking various tasks, from small to large

- Paid in reasons for said task, rather than gil

- Duration can be anything, from a single hour's task to a several-month scheme.

- Send an IC letter via private message to inquire, and to set up a meeting.

- General questions? Post 'em here or send me a message. <3

 

 

I have a problem writing short forum posts

 

[Chompie]

I would looooove to make a contract, I just need to figure out what FOR first...

[Gone]

No need to think too much on it either! Viv would happily undertake any number of menial tasks -- she's used to this method of 'appraising' by which potential contractors will first assign a seemingly unimportant task, just to see how trustworthy and/or efficient she is. Beyond that, she'd not be opposed to simply meeting with those who found her offer interesting, to assist them in discovering how best they might make use of her services. 

 

She's a bit of an odd bird, and the relatively friendly sort, so truthfully there's no reason one couldn't meet with her outside of an intent to utilize her contract, too.

[Lwodjfmekdiu]

love this idea, props to the uniqueness. I just hope one day I'll be able to find a good enough reason to come to you, lol.